Compare towns
Bristol vs Brookline vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bristol | Brookline | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
531Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bristol and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Bristol and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.